Parents Need Modern Spock

`Bodies` Updates Medical News

With this fourth revision of Spock`s classic, the good doctor, 81, is joined by Seattle pediatrician and child psychiatrist Rothenberg, who is 58.

To its traditional concerns, including state-of-the-art medical advice, the book adds sections that reflect changes in society since the original edition was published 40 years ago: widespread child abuse and neglect, the growing number of working mothers and single parents and fear of nuclear war. The last, the book says, ``is almost universal among children and is realistic.``

To the charge that Spock`s earlier advice to parents was to give ``instant gratification`` to their babies and children, he replies, ``I`ve always advised parents to respect their children but to remember to ask for respect for themselves, to give firm, clear leadership and to ask for cooperation and politeness.`` As a parent who relied on Spock 20 years ago, I can testify to that.

What began in 1970 as a stapled, 75-cent newsprint guide called Women and Their Bodies and in two commercial editions (1973 and 1976) has sold 2 1/2 million copies, has been thoroughly revised to include the latest medical information and expanded by nine chapters. A new chapter on body image deals with overcoming pressure for a ``perfect`` (i.e., reedlike) body and coming to terms with physical disability. Another chapter deals with exploitation of women by the alcohol and tobacco industries. Others deal with violence against women, environmental and occupational health, new reproductive technologies and aging.

Among many surprises the book`s confrontation of a phenomenon the early editions helped to inspire: a narrow, moralistic ``healthism,`` as the authors call it.